Buddy's Grill

                    When I got to Buddy's Grill, around 5, there were Autumn and Tonio, seated quietly, playing games on Casey Ruzena's (Aut's teacher) phone and Ipad...blending in with the other teachers, administrators and district office personnel assembled there for a meeting...Casey is so involved on committees for leadership, meeting planning, etc., not to mention singing in the Vail Choir, taking classes towards her second masters degree AND being about 8 months pregnant!!  And yet, she finds time to help me out and take such good care of the bambini for me!!
                   Thanks to her, I could work my 9 hours at Barnes & Noble - and then I visited 17 business here in Rita Ranch, asking for their help with Kimmy's dinner next month...I pointed out to the owner of Buddy's, that there was a table full of Vail School District employees in his restaurant and that Kim had often asked for his help for various school functions...he came through with a lunch for two gift certificate to be raffled off at her dinner!  I hope to hit another 10 or so tomorrow - do the three of you who still read the blog have any ideas of who might give generously (and thank you for continuing to read!!)... (after helping in Tonio's and Autumn's class - you see why I feel the need to give back???).


                 Meanwhile, Bella has gone off the deep end...

              

She is a gun nut and loves to threaten us all with annihilation! 

And the bambini, well, their cultural evolution continued tonight...

A classic that I picked up today from Barnes & Noble (great half price sale on many DVD's and 40% off Blu Ray!!)

You know, as I've said many times since starting to write Kimmy's blog, we are all faced with tragedy, loss, suffering...and today was no different as we lost a wonderful co-worker at Barnes & Noble to cancer. 

Lynne Moser was a joy to work with.  She had an incredible work ethic.  Always had a smile for everyone.  Worked in our faced paced cafe (we rank in the top 5 busiest Barnes & Noble cafe's in the country!!), and had a kind word for everyone.  She was always busy and positive.  When Kimmy got sick, she was right there with encouraging words. 

    Her daughter, Tiffany, worked with us there in the cafe' for a time, too.  And she had a son.  She was a great mom and loved her family.  She was diagnosed with cancer in November, while Kim was in the hospital fighting (and continuing to make us all smile!).  She was upbeat and positive and had deep faith. I would have liked to tell her, one last time, how special she was to us.  And to ask her to say hi to Kim for me, when she saw her in Heaven...I'm glad she is now cancer free and no longer suffering.

       This morning, in the chaos that ensues when I must get out of the door by 6:00, yet need to wake the bambini...I neglected to pack a lunch.  I nearly skipped it, but, had the fire inspector from hell in my building so decided to walk down to the food court to grab a bite.  I chose Panda Express.  I almost tossed the fortune cookie...almost...

        "You will overcome difficult times"

        With the good folks that I am blessed to have surrounding the bambini and I?  I know I can!

           Love,

               Dave

PS  As if to confirm this, I opened up email just now and Vito sent me this:

 Layman's language 10 commandments! Great reading and very
> thought provoking......
>
>
>
>
>
> Someone has written these beautiful words. Must read and try to understand
> the deep meaning of it. They are like the ten commandments to follow in
> life all the time.
>
> 1] Prayer is not a "spare wheel" that you pull out when in trouble, but
> it is a "steering wheel" that directs the right path throughout.
>
> 2] So why is a car's WINDSHIELD so large and the rear view mirror so
> small? Because our PAST is not as important as our FUTURE. So, Look Ahead and

> Move on.
>
> 3] Friendship is like a BOOK. It takes few seconds to burn, but it takes
> years to write.
>
> 4] All things in life are temporary. If going well, enjoy it, they will
> not last forever. If going wrong, don't worry, they can't last long either.
>
> 5] Old Friends are Gold! New Friends are Diamond! If you get a
> Diamond, don't forget the Gold! Because to hold a Diamond, you always need a
Base
> of Gold!
>
> 6] Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, GOD smiles from
> above and says, "Relax, sweetheart, it's just a bend, not the end!
>
> 7] When GOD solves your problems, you have faith in HIS abilities; when
> GOD doesn't solve your problems HE has faith in your abilities.
>
> 8] A blind person asked St. Anthony: "Can there be anything worse than
> losing eye sight?" He replied: "Yes, losing your vision!"
>
> 9] When you pray for others, God listens to you and blesses them, and
> sometimes, when you are safe and happy, remember that someone has prayed for

> you.
>
> 10] WORRYING does not take away tomorrow's TROUBLES, it takes away today
> ’s PEACE. If you really enjoy this, please pass to others. It may brighten
> someones day...